Cover Your Tracks [HS][2014 VERSION]

51. Sugar, We're Goin Down

"We're goin' down, down in an earlier round. And Sugar, we're goin' down swinging . . ."

In the heat of the moment, I had been too confused to realize Harry's intentions. He releases my hand and leaves his cold touch to be replaced with something else. My eyes drop down between us to see one of the handcuffs around my wrist and the other around his, binding us together. The tension in the air is nearly suffocating as I meet his stony gaze.

"Harry, I can't go with you."

He stares at me with such determination that I know this is not a battle that I can win. Nonetheless, willing to roll the dice and take my chances, I bend down and try to pick up the ring of keys he had knocked out of my hands. They lay on the floor between our feet, the keys spread out in a shimmering spiral.

Now that we are bound together by the shackles, in doing so, I had pulled his left arm along. He reacts by harshly yanking my right one back up, preventing me from obtaining the key that would allow me to break away from him. When I peer up to meet his angered gaze, I see behind it traces of hurt and uncertainty.

"You're just scared, Country. Everything will be alright, I promise."

"No!" I seethe, pounding my fists on his chest. My frustrated actions do little to harm or provoke him. He just stands there and takes it, as if allowing me to let out all of my pent-up anger out on him. "How can you say everything will be alright when my father is dead? Nothing is alright."

I take a step back and shake my head, mouth parting in awe.

"The thing is...I don't want to go with you, Harry. I want to stay."

I have made a habit of lying straight through my teeth in the past few weeks, and this was one of those times. And he knows it, too, because why would I chose to distance myself from him at a time like this? If we were to go separate ways, we would both be completely and utterly alone.

I would never admit it aloud, but deep down I think that that he would be better off without me.

He moves forward to respond but is cut short by a pounding at the door. We simultaneously turn our heads towards the end of the corridor, neither of us knowing what to do. My heart rate rises considerably with the impending intrusion, my breathing shallow and rough.

"Harry," I gasp. "I think I'm going to have an attack."

He seems torn as he glances between the door and my trembling form. It isn't long before he makes a decision, wrapping his arm around my torso before pulling me into his front. He then brings his lips to my ear, whispering words of encouragement as together we make our way to the door.

A single officer stands on the other side. He holds a gun confidently with both hands, aiming the barrel in our direction. There is shouting and panic being voiced throughout the station's corridors but this officer stands alone. He seems to think that I'm on his side as he stares at me with wide eyes, concerned with the way that Harry has his arm wrapped around my neck.

His lips brush against the shell of my ear.

"Close your eyes," he demands quietly.

Knowing that no good will come if I ignore his request, I do as he says.

My body is released from his hold and I am ultimately left to stand alone. Even though I am blind to what's going on, there are signs of struggle voiced in grunts and muffled profanity. My wrist is tugged every now and then and I comply by moving in direction of the force.

There is a loud thud and then, my wrist is guided along with Harry's to the ground. Unsure of whether it is acceptable to open my eyes, I settle with keeping them closed for the time being. With my now heightened sense of hearing, I make out the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked.